4000 Walk in L.A.

Over 4000 Los Angeles residents walked, skipped and hobbled for AIDS research, Sunday raising the largest single contribution made yet to the efforts around AIDS.

The event, following news of actor Rock Hudson's AIDS diagnosis, drew many more participants than had been expected, who walked miles through the streets of Los Angeles and raised $630,000 for the Los Angeles AIDS project.

AIDS project director William Misenheimer said he was "very happy" with the results of the event, and he said the AIDS Project would be conducting another walk-athon next year.

In August, the city of West Hollywood will be conducting another walk-a-thon for AIDS.

Last month, an organization called AIDS Medical Founda-

tion raised $300,000, the second largest block of money to be raised for AIDS to date. The Foundation raised funds through a benefit show pro-. duced by Lorne Michaels, and featuring acts such as Joan Rivers, Nochols and May, and Steve Martin.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a proposal for increasing the federal AIDS budget by one half, an increase of $46 million.

The state of California also has more than doubled its AIDS budget for the next fiscal year, with continued efforts to restore an even greater proposed increase for AIDS funds that Governor Jeukmejian had vetoed in June.

Speed Abuse Emerging as Wide Health Risk

Dr. John Newmeyer, epidemiologist at the HaightAshbury Free Medical Clinic, reports that the abuse of methamphetamine, also known as "speed" "crank", is on the increase in the Bay Area. His studies showed that local "speed" use increased sharply from 1980 through 1982, leveled off during 1983, then increased again during 1984. "Most of our indicators point to a further rise in the extent of abuse during 1985", commented Dr. Newmeyer.

Dr. Newmeyer's research showed that the local "speed" users are typically white males between the ages of 17 and 40. "Since 1980 there has been an enormous increase in the proportion of gays among the male methamphetamine users", comments Dr. Newmeyer, "as well as a distinct increase in abuse by teenagers since 1983."

"The most frightening aspect of the current 'speed epidemic' is the risk of contracting AIDS," continues Dr. Newmeyer. "Most Bay Area people who use methamphetamine heavily will employ hypodermic needles to inject the drug. If needles are shared, or not

Polk from page 1

Oregon police officials.

The prosecution has said it will seek the death penalty for White.

White had been arrested in. Oregon last October on separate charges and was extradited into California last year after admitting to the murders. He has been held in San Francisco County facilities since last October with no bail. White led police to gravesites in Golden Gate Park and Land's End following his ar-

rest.

Yesterday morning, Attorney Michael Burt successfully argued for the dropping of forced sodomy charges, citing Williams' testimony that Gomez had engaged in sex consensually before the slaying.

The prosecution had previously dropped charges of robbery which had been pressed against White. Charges remain against White for engaging in consensual sodomy with a person under the age of 18. The change could reduce the final sentence by less than six years.

"Mr. Gomez was picked up on Polk Street for sex," Bert said "then Mr. White drove

cleaned between users, there is an excellent chance that the AIDS virus can be transmitted from person to person.

In San Francisco alone, there have been approximately 80 AIDS cases who had a history of using "speed" by needle. Most of these were gay or bisexual men, so we can't be sure which of their 'double risk factors' was responsible for giving them the disease. Nonetheless," concludes Dr. Newmeyer, "I am convinced that the AIDS virus has a strong foothold among the 'speed' using population. Anyone who shares a needle to shoot 'speed' is risking his life."

him to Golden Gate Park. That was in fact consensual sex. Only afterwards was force applied."

District Attorney William Fazio said White's trial probably will not begin until next March. "We will be going for the ultimate penalty," he said.

White apparently had rendezvoused with Gomez on Polk Street, according to Fazio, for sex. The area is popular for social meeting and for gay prostitution.

Fazio will be pressing charges of torture and murder against White in connection with the killing of Larry Gaines, whose body was unearthed decapitated and dismembered at Land's End. The head was found in a plastic bag, the torso in a sleeping bag.

White had known Gaines and, according to Fazio, Gaines had been accused of "badmouthing" White. White took Gaines to his Land's End encampment where he became violent, "and it degenerated into the homocide," Fazio said.

White had apparently lived in a number of addresses in San Francisco and elsewhere.

Here comes the judge! The unabashed Wilkes Bashford puts his measuring tape to good use judging the Eagle Bare Chest contest along with Sylvester and Robert Uvarri last Thursday..

Friends of Pat Norman gathered for a party to retire remaining debts from her '84 supervisorial campaign.

WARK

WAN

YOU MUST BE 18 TO PLAY

WARD 86

WAR

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San Francisco General Ward 86 Bowling Team raised funds for wheelchairs.

August 1, 1985. Sentinel USA 3

ROBERT PRUZAN